Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress, chinsurah Street, Port Moresby (2026)

01/09/2026

𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐄’𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐁𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓’𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃.

Prime Minister James Marape’s prayer on National Repentance Day, particularly his invitation to Almighty God to remove him if he stands in the way of Papua New Guinea’s progress and development, deserves serious reflection.

Prayer is a matter of faith. Leadership, however, must ultimately be measured by results.

There are areas where the Pangu-led Government deserves acknowledgement. Its efforts to secure better terms for Papua New Guinea in new and renegotiated oil, gas and gold agreements represent an important change in the way the State approaches our natural resources.

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑷𝒂𝒑𝒖𝒂 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒂, 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏.

But that raises a much bigger question:

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐧?

We already have operating mines, oil fields, gas projects, forestry operations, fisheries and other major resource developments. Billions of kina have flowed through the economy.

Yet travel through many resource-owning communities and ask a simple question: Has the quality of life of the people improved in proportion to the wealth extracted from their land?

Too many resource landowners are found today in our urban centres struggling in the informal economy, selling betelnut and other goods to survive, while living in settlements.

Back in their villages, many families continue to live in traditional houses, depend upon subsistence agriculture and wait for reliable roads, electricity, water, schools and health services.

This contradiction has existed for decades. Therefore, announcing a "𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥" is not enough.

The Government must demonstrate how these improved agreements will translate into better households, better incomes, better roads, functioning health facilities, quality education, electricity, clean water, employment and sustainable businesses for landowners and ordinary citizens.

Otherwise, PNG risks negotiating a larger share of resource wealth without fixing the institutions responsible for converting that wealth into human development.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐃?

The same standard must be applied to public finance.

A government cannot continuously tell the country that the economy is performing strongly while important fiscal accountability reports such as the 𝗠𝗶𝗱-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 (𝗠𝗬𝗘𝗙𝗢) and 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 (𝗙𝗕𝗢) are delayed. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

They are part of the 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 through which Parliament and the people can determine whether revenue forecasts were achieved, expenditure remained within appropriations, debt stayed within lawful and prudent limits, deficits were properly reported, and government programs actually delivered what taxpayers were promised.

When these reports are delayed, the public is being asked to accept the Government’s economic narrative without being given timely access to the Government’s own scorecard.
That is 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.

Papua New Guinea has also 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐭. Borrowing itself is not necessarily bad. Governments legitimately borrow to finance development.

The real test is:

What did we borrow for, what assets were created, what economic return will those assets generate, and what improvement can ordinary citizens actually see and feel?

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰’𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬.

If debt increases while roads deteriorate, hospitals struggle, schools remain under-resourced, employment opportunities remain scarce and household purchasing power continues to decline, citizens are entitled to demand an explanation.

𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘.

The Prime Minister is entitled to his Christian faith and to pray publicly.

But 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.

No government should be permitted to construct a persuasive religious narrative around itself while its administrative, economic and fiscal performance remains legitimately open to public scrutiny.

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬.

Repentance itself means acknowledging mistakes and changing direction.

Therefore, if National Repentance Day is to have political meaning, the Government should demonstrate that repentance through transparency, fiscal discipline, honest reporting, respect for institutions and measurable improvements in the lives of Papua New Guineans.

𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐃𝐏 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬.

Parents cannot pay school fees with political speeches.

Workers cannot buy more rice because a government announces another billion-kina project.

And resource owners cannot build prosperous communities merely because another agreement has been signed in Port Moresby.

The ultimate measurement of development is what happens inside the household.

● Can people afford food?
● Can they educate their children?
● Can they obtain medicine?
● Can they find decent employment?
● Can they build permanent homes?
●Can they participate meaningfully in the wealth generated from their own country?

That is the scorecard that matters.

𝐏𝐌 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐄, 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏 𝐅𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑.

A famous political maxim, commonly attributed to Abraham Lincoln, says:
“𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒..”

Honorable Prime Minister, those words carry particular relevance as Papua New Guinea approaches the 2027 National General Election.

If your prayer sincerely places your leadership before God, then take that prayer one step further.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝 and the people of Papua New Guinea:

That the 2027 National General Election will be genuinely free, fair, transparent and credible.

Guarantee the Electoral Commission the independence, resources and administrative support necessary to conduct it.

■ Protect the integrity of the electoral roll.
■ Protect ballot papers.
■ Protect polling.
■ Protect counting.
■Protect election officials from political interference.
■ Protect every Papua New Guinean’s constitutional right to freely choose their representative.

And then allow the people to deliver their verdict.

Your prayer invited Almighty God to remove you if you stand in the way of this country's progress.

𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲, 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚.

He has already entrusted that responsibility to the people.

Give them a free and fair election in 2027.

Let every eligible Papua New Guinean vote without fear, manipulation or obstruction.

Let every legitimate vote be counted.

And then, Prime Minister, accept the verdict.

If your Government has delivered, the people will renew your mandate.

If it has failed, the people must be free to remove it.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫.

Let 2027 be the judgment of the people.

03/08/2026

Reality checked again!

03/08/2026

Reality checked!

On Country's credit rating, debt levels, state of the kina and the books for 2025.

13/07/2026

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 - 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Honorable Member for Rai Coast is not only a woman, her performance as Minister for Labour and Employment speaks to workers favorably, as to the kind of leadership, PNG workers has long for, and the Department has not seen for decades.

Minimum wage review after 10 long years from the last review, ratification of three key ILO Conventions and the K20m Labour Governance Improvement Programme funded by the Australian Government through DFAT are not feats to be overlooked as far as performance is concerned.

This workers' peak centre, the PNGTUC, understand the Minister was unwell for sometime, that alone should not be a reason to displace the Minister unless she herself decides so.

Labour is not a commodity. Labour is a key productive input in the economic equation. Someone of Minister Sawang who understands and appreciate the significance of labour and its crucial role in revenue generation for the state need not be replaced less than nine months away from the National General Elections.

It will be a gross understatement and an insult to retain her as Minister for Labour and Employment because she is a woman. She is a performing Minister.

With respect to the prerogative of the Prime Minister to appoint Ministers, controversial Ministers' with scandals hovering over their heads should have their heads on the chopping block in the slaughtering house. Not performing Ministers.

Whoever gain or lose in this Ministerial reshuffle will reflect the wisdom of the Prime Minister. Therefore it is pertinent to remind the Prime Minister to be wise this time around.

Anton P Sekum
A/General Secretary.

05/07/2026

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼.

In Commonwealth Nations, Prime Ministers frequently use "Minister without Portfolio" to appoint senior political figures or party leaders, as Minister without portfolio, to handle cross-cutting strategy, crisis management, or oversee broader Cabinet operations without the burden of Departmental Administration.

Does MP Win Bakri Daki have the necessary wherewithal (superior knowledge and technical ability) to oversee broader Cabinet operations?

06/06/2026

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗨𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

There is a growing perception that the current Government has begun to treat the State as though it is an extension of the Government itself.

In a constitutional democracy, the relationship should be the exact opposite: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

To put this into perspective, consider a simple analogy.

The State is the ship, while the Government is the crew entrusted to sail it. Crews come and go, but the ship remains. The only time the ship is endangered is when the crew neglects its responsibilities and runs it aground on a reef or onto the rocks.

𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 exists to ensure that the crew remains accountable while navigating the ship. It provides the 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 necessary to keep the vessel on course, safeguard its cargo, and ensure it reaches its destination safely, efficiently, and in the interests of all who depend upon it.

The Constitution is the blueprint of the ship. It defines its structure, purpose, and operating principles. It also allocates powers and responsibilities to those entrusted with managing it. These powers are not granted for the benefit of the crew itself but are exercised on behalf of the people, from whom all legitimate authority ultimately derives.

In Papua New Guinea, 𝘀𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. The State and the Government derive their authority from the Constitution and are bound by its provisions. The 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 is therefore 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲; it is merely the temporary custodian of powers entrusted to it by the people through constitutional processes.

When the distinction between the State and the Government becomes blurred, the risks are significant. Public institutions can become politicised, independent offices weakened, Parliament reduced to a rubber stamp, and constitutional safeguards eroded. Over time, loyalty shifts from the Constitution and the State to the Government of the day, undermining the very foundations of democratic governance.

The 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Governments will change through elections and constitutional processes, but the State must remain impartial, resilient, and faithful to the Constitution.

The moment a Government begins to regard itself as synonymous with the State, democratic accountability is weakened and constitutional governance is placed at risk.

The challenge before Papua New Guinea today is not merely about who occupies political office. It is about preserving the constitutional principle that the 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲, and that both remain accountable to the people, who are the true owners of the ship.

02/06/2026

The Papua New Banks & Financial Institutions Workers Union (PNGBFIWU) take pride in announcing it's affiliation to the UNI Global Union as at June 1 2026.

31/05/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀?

Year after year, Papua New Guineans are told that record amounts have been allocated to the health sector. Yet the recent exposure of conditions at the Port Moresby General Hospital has once again laid bare the reality experienced daily by ordinary citizens.

What the international community and development partners witnessed is not new. It is the lived experience of Papua New Guineans who have endured overcrowded wards, shortages of medicines, inadequate medical equipment, and a health system struggling to meet basic needs.

The people of Papua New Guinea are entitled to ask a simple but fundamental question of the Prime Minister, the Health Minister, the National Executive Council, and the bureaucratic leadership of the health sector:

"𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?"

Accountability cannot be replaced by budget announcements, media releases, or political assurances. Citizens deserve transparency on how public funds are spent and measurable improvements in service delivery.

It is particularly disturbing that many political leaders and senior officials routinely seek medical treatment in Australia, Singapore, Manila, and other countries while expecting ordinary Papua New Guineans to rely on a domestic health system that they themselves appear unwilling to trust.

This raises an important question: 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲?

Perhaps the time has come for Parliament to seriously consider legislation requiring elected leaders and senior public officials to utilize public health services in Papua New Guinea except in exceptional circumstances where specialist treatment is unavailable in-country. Such a measure would ensure that those making decisions about health funding experience firsthand the consequences of their decisions and mismanagement or corruption, if any.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Papua New Guinea cannot continue to celebrate record health budgets while hospitals struggle, healthcare workers are overburdened, and citizens suffer preventable illness and death. "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀; 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀".

The call today is not merely for increased funding. It is for transparency, accountability, competent management, and a commitment by leaders to stand alongside the people they serve.

Only then will Papua New Guinea begin to see the genuine transformation of its health services that its citizens have long been promised.

AGS PNGTUC

Caption - the statement by this concerned citizen holds water and deserve backing.

14/05/2026

𝗣𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗦.

𝗣𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀.

The growing concentration of power within the National Executive Council (NEC), headed by Prime Minister James Marape, is raising serious national concerns about the erosion of the doctrine of separation of powers upon which our democracy was built.

The NEC already exercises enormous delegated authority — including the appointment of Ministers, heads of state agencies and senior constitutional office holders. But when such powers begin to overshadow the independence of Parliament, the Public Service and even the Judiciary, then democracy itself comes under threat.

Parliament is increasingly perceived by ordinary Papua New Guineans as a rubber stamp, rather than an independent arm of government capable of holding the Executive accountable.

More alarming is the emerging perception that even the Judiciary is being placed under immense pressure in ways that could undermine public confidence in justice and constitutional independence.

This raises a fundamental national question:

Is the principle of separation of powers now being quietly consolidated under the NEC? And for what purpose?

Whether direct or indirect, explicit or implicit, the use of appointment powers to influence institutions, reward loyalty, silence dissent, pursue political agendas or shield individuals from accountability moves dangerously close to authoritarianism. No democracy can survive when checks and balances become weakened by fear, dependence or political patronage.

Equally concerning is the growing perception of regional imbalance in the appointment of individuals into key constitutional and state decision-making offices.

Papua New Guinea is a nation of hundreds of tribes, languages and cultures. National unity cannot be sustained if citizens begin to believe that state power and strategic offices are concentrated within one political network or regional bloc.

Such perceptions — whether real or perceived — are dangerous in a fragile democracy and risk pushing the country toward deeper political distrust and national fragmentation.

At the same time, the country is now less than ten months away from the 2027 National General Elections, yet public confidence in electoral preparedness remains weak.

Concerns surrounding the integrity, administration and eventual outcomes of the elections are already dominating public discussion across the country.

“Every man and his dog already knows what to expect,” many citizens say with frustration and hopelessness.

That sentiment alone should alarm every responsible leader.

When viewed alongside Papua New Guinea’s grey-listing challenges, weakening institutions and growing public distrust, the implications for investor confidence, governance credibility and national stability become even more serious.

This is no longer a matter for quiet political gossip. It is now a national conversation.

Political leaders, civil society, churches, constitutional offices and citizens alike must confront these issues now — not after the damage is done and the storm has passed.

To the leaders of this nation:

If you have ears to hear — listen.

If you have eyes to see — do not remain ignorant.

Fix it now, before the country reaches a point where rebuilding trust in democracy becomes far harder than protecting it today.

Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress

01/09/2026

03/08/2026

03/08/2026

13/07/2026

05/07/2026

06/06/2026

02/06/2026

31/05/2026

14/05/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Organization

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request